About Joe Hoare

My life has been defined by several critical strands.First, I have never worked a day in my life. I have always loved the activities I've been engaged in and have never performed them primarily for money. Ever.

Secondly in my initial career, managing forest operations, I was lucky enough to have clients with exceptional standards who expected the best from me at all times. I was trained to deliver solutions & results, think logically & coherently, and to be able communicate clearly both with the written and spoken word.In 1992 I was awarded one of the UK's first 'Centres of Excellence' award by the Forestry Authority for my multi-objective management at Stourhead (Western) Estate.

Thirdly, I have worked endlessly with volunteers. Volunteer energy has a special magic in it and handled properly, respecting its natural boundaries, its enthusiasm and creativity delivers excellent results.

Fourthly, I have had the privilege and delight of having several rough diamonds work with & for me - resourceful, free-thinking, capable, mostly loyal but occasional rogues. I am more indebted to them than they will ever realise. They all modelled brilliance and creativity and continue to inspire me to this day.

My own personal wake-up changed my life forever, in one ripping instant. I realised from that spiritual and emotional catharsis that my life was one of service, and all my endeavours have been directed to that end ever since (1991). Even in the most corporate team-building and conference environments my agenda has always included encouraging people to connect with their good-natured, creative individuality and perform better not just for themselves but for a bigger picture for the good of all. And it works.

Following that thread, my personal development work is about empowerment: helping people see the bigger picture, come alive, be the best they can be, and enjoy the ride. Because this enjoyment is contagious, it gives others permission to enjoy the ride too. It stimulates qualities like connection & kindness, and its ultimate effect is to enhance people's experience of being alive, for the benefit of all.

I do this through courses, conferences, workshops, Retreats and one-to-one sessions. I do it however it works best, and find that the right people always attend the right session.Professionally I have been running meetings, delivering conference sessions and providing workshops for over 30 years. My clients range from the international blue-chip companies (such as Kraft, Bank of Ireland, Novo Nordisk, Lloyds, Continental Airlines), to universities and colleges (including Bristol, Dundee, U.W.E, Cheltenham Science Festival), to charities and the Healthcare sector (Housing Associations, the NHS, Oxfam, NACTHPC, and others), and to the very experiential end of the spectrum like Glastonbury Festival.In 2006 I co-founded (and continue to run) the UK's Laughter Facilitation / now the #laughteryogawithJoe course, to teach people a flexible, natural, spontaneous and non-formulaic approach to Laughter Yoga.In 2000 I co-authored 'The Holistic Workspace', and in 2013 'Awakening the Laughing Buddha within' with the Barefoot Doctor.I produced my recent book 'Laughter yoga and happiness: 7 insights from 15 years of laughter yoga' in 2018 (available here)I was a Director of the mould-breaking Pierian Centre in Bristol and am an occasional visiting lecturer at the University of the West of England in the fields of leadership, empowerment and health promotion.I also trained in laughter yoga with Dr Madan Kataria, founder of laughter clubs international, and run regular #laughteryogawithJoe sessions for organisations and the general public.My work regularly appears in the public eye, including BBC 2's 'Don't Die Young' with Dr Alice Roberts, the Jeremy Vine, Chris Evans and Johnny Walker Show on Radio 2, Points West, BBC 1's Inside Out, Discovery Health Channel, Radio 4, The Sunday Times, The Independent on Sunday, Nursing Times, Bristol Evening Post, among others.In the late 1990's I ran British Medical Association accredited innovative ('Stress Management with a Difference') stress management programmes.

What are the benefits of laughter?Click here (laughterclub.mp3) to listen to a radio interview with Joe Hoare.

Watch the award-winning 13-minute documentary'The Best Medicine'about Jon, his tumour, and the impact of Bristol laughter club laughter practices

Action for Happiness: Action for Happiness is a movement for positive social change. We're bringing together people from all walks of life who want to play a part in creating a happier society for everyone. actionforhappiness.org

Rx Laughter develops & implements projects that examine the positive health benefits of entertainment to reduce/alleviate the trauma of serious physical and emotional issues of children and adults. www.rxlaughter.org/